For those chafing at the thought of New Jersey native Giuseppe Rossi suiting up for the Italians in Monday's Confederations Cup opener against the U.S. in Pretoria, news this morning out of Germany should offer some ironic relief.Schalke 04 midfielder Jermaine Jones, a 27-year-old from Frankfurt who happens to be the son of an American soldier, has decided to take advantage of a new FIFA rule and declare his intention to play for the U.S. national team. Last week, the global governing body decided that players who hadn't represented their country in official competition could switch affiliation at any point, rather then only before their 21st birthday. Apparently snubbed by German national team coach Joachim Low, Jones has taken advantage.
Both the DFB and Schalke confirmed Jones' decision on their respective websites this morning. Considered one of the Bundesliga's best holding midfielders, he represented Germany at the under-21 level and had appeared in three friendlies for the nationalmannschaft (including last November's game against England), but didn't make the Euro 2008 roster and didn't appear to be in Low's World Cup qualifying plans.
"I have played a very good season, but have not gotten a chance with the national team. I want it but it hasn't happened. The chapter with the German national team is closed," Jones told Schalke's website.
"We have noted Jermaine Jones's decision and we accept it," Low said. U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati released a statement simply acknowledging the news. It's unclear when Jones would be eligible to play for the U.S.
The case immediately brings to mind those of Thomas Dooley and Earnie Stewart, European sons of American servicemen who weren't good enough to play for Germany and the Netherlands, respectively, but were more than qualified to help the U.S. Each had distinguished national team careers, playing in a combined five World Cups, and showed their loyalty to American soccer by signing with MLS.
It also raises some questions for U.S. coach Bob Bradley, who now has one more central midfielder to consider. His son Michael, also a Bundesliga player, appears to have one spot locked down when he's not suspended, while Ricardo Clark, Sacha Kljestan, Pablo Mastroeni, Maurice Edu and perhaps one or two others also are in the mix. Too bad Jones isn't a striker or outside back. But, he is an experienced player used to competing at the highest level, which the national team certainly could use. Many key American players still have trouble getting games abroad.
It's important not to make more out of this than it is -- Jones likely wouldn't have chosen the U.S. had Low brought him in for this year's qualifiers. We remain a second-tier soccer nation, and when players like Rossi or Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic have a legitimate choice between the U.S. national team and that of a competitive European or Latin American country, we can't expect to come out on top. At least for a while.
But what will change that is moving out of that second tier, and to do that we need to win games at World Cups. Jones may help the U.S. take a step in that direction.
